Maybe the Giants didn’t specifically pick Preston Parker over James Jones to be the team’s third receiver, but that’s the role Parker played on Sunday night hours after Jones starred in his return to the Packers after being released by Big Blue.

Aaron Rodgers targeted Jones just four times, but he caught all four for 51 yards and two touchdowns – and had two other scores called back due to penalties.

Jones led the Packers to a 31-23 win over Chicago, while Parker was in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. With the Giants counting on him in the wake of starting wide receiver Victor Cruz’s calf injury, he had just two receptions on a half-dozen targets. But it’s more the catches he didn’t make, all on third down in the second half of a loss at the archrival Cowboys.

Clearly. Every single one of his drops cost the Giants points in a key season-opening NFC East loss.

First came a drop on third-and-12 from the 22 with 14 seconds left in the first half, and then another on third-and-2 from the 12 on the opening drive of the second half. Each stalled potential touchdown marches and forced the Giants to settle for field goals.

But his last, coming on third-and-8 from the Dallas 38, kept the Giants out of field goal range with 9:46 left in the game and forced the Giants to punt.

“We have to cash in, especially when we’re close to the touchdown. Those are important. Instead of getting threes, get six. We need six,’’ said Parker. “Got to make those plays. That’s all.’’